Mamelodi Sundowns made a winning start to their CAF Champions League campaign in Group A with a 1-0 victory over Al-Hilal Omdurman on Friday evening.
The South Africans handed starts to goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Khuliso Mudau, Lyle Lakay, Gaston Sirino and Pavol Safranko, with former Baroka FC player Gerald Phiri Junior featuring for Hilal.
After a passive start, Sundowns went ahead on eight minutes when Themba Zwane picked up a loose pass around the area to slot in from close-range.
Hilal wanted to eagerly get back in the contest and saw a high-pressing mechanism as a route to opening up the South African champions but there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
As an opportunity came for former Cape Town City man Abdul Jeleel Ajagun midway through the first half, Sundowns had to remove Sirino following a nose injury and in came Thapelo Morena.
The introduction was nearly what the doctor ordered when Morena dodged the defensive line to race clear from Zwane's through pass only to be met by Mohamed Ahmed Saeed's last-ditch challenge.
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Masandawana were not able to double their lead minutes following halftime after Safranko headed a floating ball from Lakay's free-kick beyond target.
It urged the former SuperSport United and City man to take matters in his own hands towards the last 30 minutes when his powerful drive from a free-kick worked their opposite number.
Sundowns continued to see chances for more goals following the closing exchanges, but Zwane, Rivaldo Coetzee and Peter Shalulile allowed the chance to go astray.
This missed chance almost came back to haunt them minutes apart as Hilal threatened the equaliser, but Zwane made a solid goal-line clearance.
New signing Erwin Saavedra entered from the bench and nearly had a goal on debut with a strike from a tight angle, but missed target as it finished 1-0.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sundowns: D.Onyango, Coetzee, De Reuck, B. Onyango, Lakay, Jali, Mudau, Sirino, Zwane, Safranko, Shalulile.
Subs: Mweene, Lunga, Modiba, Mokoena, Morena, Ralani, Kutumela, Mvala, Saavedra.